The Rational Fear

Between Hope and Despair there lies an ember. The prickling fear that survival is dependent on observation and careful steps. Only there can the prudent thoughts of adults reside. After all - Fear and experience are the best teachers. //21+ indenpendent Pitch Black Follows back from @flameofprimus Also RPs Jack Frost @thelastfrostprince Minors DNI

[skopeophobos]

"You are not Nyx." There voice echoed and pulsed, a soft observation from Chaos.

"No you are something different... something.. new. Tell me, Maker of Nightmares, what are you called?" Chaos's voice was everywhere and nowhere all at once.

Is this the maw again? Gilded eyes flicker from their absent gaze just above his piano. Gaze sliding around his liar. The empty cages swaying. The drop by his feet shudders and recedes ever so slightly. Whispering as the silence lingers," ... I do not make Nightmares. I prey upon the fears that already exist. Thus my nightmares are born, fully formed, sprung from the minds of mortals. Whom are you- to be so far into the shadows as to see me?" The energy is familiar but vastly foreign all at once. The taste of possibility on his tongue, as well as the heavy burden of a failure that has not happened.

[skopeophobos]

"Take my soul. "

" Your soul-?" Pitch pauses, staring at the whispering shade. The reaching ripple. " I have no need for souls. That is not the intent of my existence." His hand reaches carefully down, gathering the scared lost thing," But if you have no other place to go. I will change you. You will not remember what you were or whence you came-" Gently compressing it. Humming as he gathers sand around it. Building it from the core- Until a new Nightmare stands there. Shivering as it paws the ground of his lair. Stroking over its nose before he guides it to the herd. Watching it be assimilated by the others with gleeful delight.

[skopeophobos]

"Scaring people makes you feel powerful, doesn't it?"

" No. It doesn't. It sickens me- but such is the lot of the Boogeyman." His digits dance along the slightly out of tune piano keys. Ignoring the hissing seething pit near his heel.

" Scaring the living. Making them survive- now that makes me feel powerful. To live to fight another day."

[dreamworksanimation]

“[Pitch] doesn’t have a key color or pattern. He’s like a chameleon that blends into the background. We always stage him at night, when he comes out of the dark corners of the rooms.” – Patrick Hanenberger, production designer

Art by Patrick Hanenberger

[flossinspector]

@skopeophobos

" a joy to see a familiar face in such a precarious setting "

"Your sarcasm is duly noted, Pitch." Her shoulders back, head held high as she eyed the boogeyman. Always unpleasant to meet the one that goes bump in the night.

"And how has the gap in your teeth been treating you?"

[skopeophobos]

" I do not care for your overly whimsical view on reality. Practicality, is King in survival. My intent is never malicious; even my rather spectacularly failed attempt to get you lot to accept some reality yourselves. No the hate is in the maw, and from the maw horror claws." Rolling his many eyes at her finally. Such preaching nonsense! He tries to offer a warning and she is utterly nonsensensical.

All the influence. None of the drive.

" Let me put it another way. You directly impact children with your actions. You don't think you can't benefit the world in subtle actions through your vast network of workers? I don't particularly care for the thing in my lair to get enough traction to finally rip itself fully free of my jail. I do not know what it would do after so long."

[flossinspector]

"Just because you live closer to the darkness that tries to claw free, doesn't mean I have to live oppressed by it." She would, of course, mull over what he said. Perhaps dive a little deeper into recent collected memories. She wasn't sure if sending out her fairies in reconnaissance was necessary at this point, but she would have to see. But she wasn't about to let him know that. Better to let him think her dismissive. It was safer to be underestimated.

"Don't tell me how to do my job, Pitch. I don't store the memories to lock them away, never to be touched again. I do my part. But even my influence can't make someone's decisions for them. The steps someone takes in their life are their decision, and theirs alone."

[skopeophobos]

" Naturally." Pitch pushes up, and flips off the branch. Fluttering around her as a darkly shaded lyrebird. Voice sounding similar to Jacks," Even then some decisions are thrust upon the young against their will?

Morphing to something like Norths as he loops around her," Wouldn't it be nice if they had another voice besides the thing in the closet or the shadow under their bed to talk to?" He clicks his beak together. Flitting higher, wing span growing as he turns into a Raven.

Croaking softly," Do as you will. This part of my duty is done. Enjoy your Equinox. I'm off, duty calls afar." The sky darkening as a herd of obsidian nightmares sweep from the direction of the fae party behind them.

[justanotherrpmusing]

[skopeophobos]

" Mm. You're also far less judgemental. A refreshing winter's breeze even. I am here because I was hunting something." Turning its head slowly away. Humming as the long ears prick up. Eyes tracking something in the far distance. Whispering again," It might not be urgent as I had feared. A lucky day for your world."

[brightchill]

"Oh? You need any help?" Jack asks, almost excited assist with a brawl. "I'm pretty handy in a fight! And today's been pretty slow, all things considered. If you lead the way, I'll bring up the rear!"

A lucky day for the world. If it's all that dangerous, then this version of Pitch will absolutely need some Jack Frost firepower. ...Icepower. Whichever fits better.

[skopeophobos]

" If we see anything, you, shall stay behind me. Independent Fearlings are dangerous. Hungry. They are more than you know." Eyes rolling back to regard Frost.

Then it snorts in the cold. Razor sharp hooves scraping the ground. It hums," You may ride upon my back if you are so inclined to follow regardless."

[brightchill]

The ferret mock-salutes the shadowy deer, showing off all of his pointy fangs in a bright smile. "Fearlings, badniks- whatever they are, we'll kick their butts and be back home in time for ice skating."

Once Pitch offers, Jack slams his staff into the ground to push himself up, and then blasts cold air to launch him right onto the other's shapeshifted image. "I'm getting a piggyback ride from the bogeydeer. What a day!"

[skopeophobos]

" Stag. A Voidstag specifically." Pitch springs into motion. Hooves carrying them nimbly through the forest. Feathers ruffling as the world streaks by," Hold tight. I'm going to step through the veil briefly-"

Plunging antlers down through a particularly dark patch of foliage. And into the space between; a void full of echoing whispers. Only for a flash though, the dark pressing in then gone. Back into the dim moon light, farther ahead by a mile now.

" Are you well-?" Ears flicking as he slows.

[skopeophobos]

" Mm. You're also far less judgemental. A refreshing winter's breeze even. I am here because I was hunting something." Turning its head slowly away. Humming as the long ears prick up. Eyes tracking something in the far distance. Whispering again," It might not be urgent as I had feared. A lucky day for your world."

[brightchill]

"Oh? You need any help?" Jack asks, almost excited assist with a brawl. "I'm pretty handy in a fight! And today's been pretty slow, all things considered. If you lead the way, I'll bring up the rear!"

A lucky day for the world. If it's all that dangerous, then this version of Pitch will absolutely need some Jack Frost firepower. ...Icepower. Whichever fits better.

[skopeophobos]

" If we see anything, you, shall stay behind me. Independent Fearlings are dangerous. Hungry. They are more than you know." Eyes rolling back to regard Frost.

Then it snorts in the cold. Razor sharp hooves scraping the ground. It hums," You may ride upon my back if you are so inclined to follow regardless."

[brightchill]

“You should come along next time! It’s a great way to blow off steam and blow up robots.”

[skopeophobos]

" Why look at you. Finally getting back to your roots Frost? Good for you. Don't let the Bourgeoisie Guardians ever tell you otherwise."

[brightchill]

“Eggman is hurting the planet, which hurts the kids. The Guardians are all for me taking that guy down a couple pegs. …ha, p-eggs.”

[skopeophobos]

" Oh so they actually do pay attention? Well that's for one realm isn't it. I'm almost giddy to know that even. " Clicking his tongue," Mine wouldn't know what 'crisis' actually is. Which is particularly frightful since they're all so much older than that little Ice Wyrm."

[brightchill]

“Ice Wyrm?” Jack cocks his head, one ear flicking. “Pretty sure we don’t have one of those. Of course the Guardians pay attention here, though- if they don’t, their homes will get bulldozed just like everyone else’s.”

[skopeophobos]

" Mm Ice Wyrm- " The Shadow shifts. And a space that has a bit of moonlight and shadow play curls. The shadow taking a somewhat dragon shape. Only smaller and more jagged. A larger dragon shape swooping over and away. " Intelligent creatures. The bane of winter's bite. Children can see through the fae veil to the beast even if adults cannot. Usually the Winter Court lets them run amok but the frost bite moon guardian is just as vicious and smart."

[brightchill]

“Frost Bite Moon Guardian,” Jack hums. “So you’re saying you know a guy who’s as fierce as a dragon from an old fairy tale. He must be pretty… cool.”

The little ferret observes the shifting images, grinning at his own clever wordplay. “And I’d know! Cool is my whole thing.”

“Where are you, anyway? Usually you’re out of the shadows by now, in our universe.”

[skopeophobos]

" We're all connected. Where one Maw exists so too do I and all of them overlap." A long pause," Its a little bit of its own magic. Let's say that. Though hardly pleasant." The shadow bows out abruptly. Stretching with wet meaty cracks before it shakes itself. A black Roe Deer with massive glittering obsidian antlers and glossy feathers that rustle like whispering sand. It turns its head, staring at the Frost Guard with two ink weeping eyes. " I am not here. This is merely a projection of my power into the dark." There is no visible mouth the dark furred head, even as it whispers softly.

[brightchill]

“So you’re here, but not really here,” Jack sums up, nodding. That’s definitely like Pitch, and the silhouette is familiar enough. Usually the guy he knows uses less poetry, but it’s not so strange as to be unbelievable. “Feels kind of like chaos energy, but… definitely stickier.”

Whatever the other is using, it seems to cling like it wants to stay around whatever it touches. It almost makes Jack tired, and he hasn’t been tired since he fell into Lunar Lake.

“Thanks for giving me a place to look at you. Having to spin around to track the shadows kind of makes me dizzy.”

[skopeophobos]

" Mm. You're also far less judgemental. A refreshing winter's breeze even. I am here because I was hunting something." Turning its head slowly away. Humming as the long ears prick up. Eyes tracking something in the far distance. Whispering again," It might not be urgent as I had feared. A lucky day for your world."

[brightchill]

“You should come along next time! It’s a great way to blow off steam and blow up robots.”

[skopeophobos]

" Why look at you. Finally getting back to your roots Frost? Good for you. Don't let the Bourgeoisie Guardians ever tell you otherwise."

[brightchill]

“Eggman is hurting the planet, which hurts the kids. The Guardians are all for me taking that guy down a couple pegs. …ha, p-eggs.”

[skopeophobos]

" Oh so they actually do pay attention? Well that's for one realm isn't it. I'm almost giddy to know that even. " Clicking his tongue," Mine wouldn't know what 'crisis' actually is. Which is particularly frightful since they're all so much older than that little Ice Wyrm."

[brightchill]

“Ice Wyrm?” Jack cocks his head, one ear flicking. “Pretty sure we don’t have one of those. Of course the Guardians pay attention here, though- if they don’t, their homes will get bulldozed just like everyone else’s.”

[skopeophobos]

" Mm Ice Wyrm- " The Shadow shifts. And a space that has a bit of moonlight and shadow play curls. The shadow taking a somewhat dragon shape. Only smaller and more jagged. A larger dragon shape swooping over and away. " Intelligent creatures. The bane of winter's bite. Children can see through the fae veil to the beast even if adults cannot. Usually the Winter Court lets them run amok but the frost bite moon guardian is just as vicious and smart."

[brightchill]

“Frost Bite Moon Guardian,” Jack hums. “So you’re saying you know a guy who’s as fierce as a dragon from an old fairy tale. He must be pretty… cool.”

The little ferret observes the shifting images, grinning at his own clever wordplay. “And I’d know! Cool is my whole thing.”

“Where are you, anyway? Usually you’re out of the shadows by now, in our universe.”

[skopeophobos]

" We're all connected. Where one Maw exists so too do I and all of them overlap." A long pause," Its a little bit of its own magic. Let's say that. Though hardly pleasant." The shadow bows out abruptly. Stretching with wet meaty cracks before it shakes itself. A black Roe Deer with massive glittering obsidian antlers and glossy feathers that rustle like whispering sand. It turns its head, staring at the Frost Guard with two ink weeping eyes. " I am not here. This is merely a projection of my power into the dark." There is no visible mouth the dark furred head, even as it whispers softly.

[brightchill]

“You should come along next time! It’s a great way to blow off steam and blow up robots.”

[skopeophobos]

" Why look at you. Finally getting back to your roots Frost? Good for you. Don't let the Bourgeoisie Guardians ever tell you otherwise."

[brightchill]

“Eggman is hurting the planet, which hurts the kids. The Guardians are all for me taking that guy down a couple pegs. …ha, p-eggs.”

[skopeophobos]

" Oh so they actually do pay attention? Well that's for one realm isn't it. I'm almost giddy to know that even. " Clicking his tongue," Mine wouldn't know what 'crisis' actually is. Which is particularly frightful since they're all so much older than that little Ice Wyrm."

[brightchill]

“Ice Wyrm?” Jack cocks his head, one ear flicking. “Pretty sure we don’t have one of those. Of course the Guardians pay attention here, though- if they don’t, their homes will get bulldozed just like everyone else’s.”

[skopeophobos]

" Mm Ice Wyrm- " The Shadow shifts. And a space that has a bit of moonlight and shadow play curls. The shadow taking a somewhat dragon shape. Only smaller and more jagged. A larger dragon shape swooping over and away. " Intelligent creatures. The bane of winter's bite. Children can see through the fae veil to the beast even if adults cannot. Usually the Winter Court lets them run amok but the frost bite moon guardian is just as vicious and smart."

[brightchill]

“You should come along next time! It’s a great way to blow off steam and blow up robots.”

[skopeophobos]

" Why look at you. Finally getting back to your roots Frost? Good for you. Don't let the Bourgeoisie Guardians ever tell you otherwise."

[brightchill]

“Eggman is hurting the planet, which hurts the kids. The Guardians are all for me taking that guy down a couple pegs. …ha, p-eggs.”

[skopeophobos]

" Oh so they actually do pay attention? Well that's for one realm isn't it. I'm almost giddy to know that even. " Clicking his tongue," Mine wouldn't know what 'crisis' actually is. Which is particularly frightful since they're all so much older than that little Ice Wyrm."

[brightchill]

“You should come along next time! It’s a great way to blow off steam and blow up robots.”

[skopeophobos]

" Why look at you. Finally getting back to your roots Frost? Good for you. Don't let the Bourgeoisie Guardians ever tell you otherwise."

[skopeophobos]

[skopeophobos]

Ponysona Maker

Chose your Character- The Great General: Proud, Honorable, Kind The Fallen Star: Lost, Confused, Hurting

[skopeophobos]

Pitch is a limp form over a battered lounge chair. The fabric long dulled and stained to a faded grey. It's at least comfortable. One of the few things that he has managed to steal over the years from the Guardians. He's fairly certain it used to be in Tooth's grand Palace. He has a footstool somewhere from North's workshop. One that had been left in a corner unattended for too long. It had been stained with mulled wine. An elf had perhaps hidden it, hoping to have their mischief ignored. The smells on it had been... something. Feeling the warmth for that moment before once more it died. It was placed near a low wood table. The carving on it battered and rough. The Rabbit had made it for Practice? So he thinks. Perhaps. He's not sure. It was sturdy enough. Though now pockmarked with bitemarks and claw marks. Various objects in progress strewn over it. Pitch regards his Lair, his Den apathetically. One of his True Nightmares clips closer. Curling to lay by the chair. Resting its head over his chest. He lifts his hand to cup its face lightly. Brushing the smooth obsidian glass features. Anyone else might be cut to shreds. For Pitch they are as docile and sweet as new lambs. The Abyss is quiet. After the struggle of last night he is glad. He stares at the arched dark grey ceiling.

[skopeophobos]